president obama is due to arrive this evening for a one day visit to the bay area. he will meet with silicon valley leaders at a private dinner in san francisco tonight. the white house says the president will focus on promoting american innovation, education and clean energy. but some analysts say he is also trying to rally support for his recently released budget. among the executives due to meet with the president, facebook ceo and apple's steve jobs. >>> on capitol hill today the house begins a third day of debate on cutting billions of dollars from this year's spending bill. house republicans want to cut $61 billion from government agencies for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year that ends october 1st. so far the only thing democrats and republicans have been able to agree on is counseling $450 million for an alternative engine for the pentagon's next generation fighter jet. >>> a close friend of congresswoman gabrielle giffords says she can now respond to questions, laugh at jokes and recognize visitors. the friend recently visited giffords at the re